>>> I usually keep out of these discussions, but now I'll chip in: If you have
>>> a rule against personal rudeness and cussing, *do* enforce it each and
>>> every time. There is no point in having a rule otherwise.
>>
>> I agree completely, but it seems there is a majority of people who like to
>> have rules (probably to feel somewhat "safe"), but also like to be able --
>> at their discretion -- to transgress without punishment (probably to feel
>> somewhat "in control")... Look at speed limits :)
> 
> A rule is put there to serve a purpose. If someone decides to break it he 
> better had good reasons and provide timely excuses or face the 
> consequences of breaking the rule.

As I said, I personally agree completely with you. But I couldn't help
notice that it seems that this is not a "majority thing". Most of the
people I know have a different attitude towards rules. One of the more
common examples are speed limits. Most people think it's appropriate to go
(at least) just a bit above the "limit", whereas I think if they want to go
just a bit above it, they should lobby to raise the limit -- so that it's
really a /limit/, and then go at a speed below it. But my (and assumedly
your) position towards rules doesn't seem to be the prevalent.

> To go back to speed limits, I assume you're in Germany, 

I am German, but I'm not in Germany -- anymore. Currently I'm living in
Brazil.

> where there are  *no* speed limits on the Autobahn. 

Yes and no. There is no general speed limit in terms of a fixed speed, but
the parts without posted speed limits are getting fewer and fewer (so they
tell me), and there *is* in fact a general speed limit: that's the maximum
speed that allows you to drive safely. (That's actually a law, something
like the "constitution of traffic laws", unluckily not too often enforced.)

And the absence of a general speed limit on the Autobahns doesn't mean that
the attitude towards speed limits is different in Germany. Where there is
one, most people like to go, just as about everywhere else I've been, (at
least) just above the speed "limit"... :)

Gerhard
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